Witching Ours Sporeticulture

We identify contaminated and spent agricultural areas, altered by climate change, that no longer produce food.  Beginning with a database, we will track evolving climactic trends, discover nutritious, restorative plants from historically similar agricultural regions to introduce, fill in gaps for optimal organic growth, such as partner fungi and soil components, all to restore fertility and create sustainable economic prosperity.  This solution can positively change lives across the world as it establishes a sharable and evolving database of information that can be used to restore areas of depletion, create new agricultural opportunities in even desert regions, build training components for immediate use, and, initiate new areas of academic research. We begin with local populations disenfranchised by obsolete industries, in need of new training and employment. 

 Food insecurity coupled with food deserts challenge billions of people worldwide.  The toll of the recent and continuing pandemic is yet to be determined.  In my area (Texas) alone, more folks are in need of the food bank than ever before.  Locally, crops hit by an unexpected and lengthy freeze this year were decimated.  This is after a year of unexpectedly heavy rainfall on crops that were bred for drought but not floods.  Natural weather cycles may contribute to this challenge, but climate change as the result of human interference both historic and continuing, needs to be addressed.  Many decades of cattle ranching, oil drilling, urban development, Big Ag farming, destruction of prairie grasses and fracking near natural sources of water may be countered by study and better practices. Re-introducing mycorrhizal networks, introducing non-invasive, restorative plants (Moringa tree, for example), and building a database that can be translated for other parts of the world can help to turn this tide.  This plan calls for short term training of local employees and long term research of evolving agriculture.

Our solution involves establishing a comprehensive database, from academic sources, geospatial data such as that found at ArcGIS, emerging information from areas that are experiencing profound and permanent changes, and new complementary disciplines such as arbuscular mycorrhizal use to promote greater yields, healthier plants and improved soil, to share.  It works by match-making: first in a very localized area using indigenous or established plants, then expanding its scope by introducing plants that may flourish where growing conditions have appreciably changed.  For example, soybean might replace cotton that has drained soil; moringa, from Niger, might do well in Texas if the soil conditions, symbiotic relationships (that exist naturally in NIger), and seasonal care are imitated.  Local application of this principle can return fairly quick restorative results; global consideration will take longer but just observing the data should allow creative insights for implementation after careful testing.  The concept presumes expanding opportunities and avenues for academic and agricultural research. 

In the short term, our solution will serve local communities that are currently both food insecure and living in food deserts.  In the long term it will both inform and provide this population, and those farther afield, with the understanding of nutritiously dense organic food as well as the food itself.  It will do this as it implements regenerative soil techniques to actually produce more and better food, all the while adding information to the shareable database.

On a different level, our solution addresses the stress and misuse of agricultural land in the US.  Part of the database will be lists of diseases particular to developed countries that rely heavily upon mass production of meat and genetically-modified crops as well as highly processed and refined end products. 

Those who are food insecure have different sets of challenges from those who exist in a food desert.  Our solution addresses both and a large part of that comes from education.  We will understand the needs of each group by listening to individuals as well as the organizations that serve them.  For example: I asked the executive director of a food bank about providing organic food and fresh produce for her clients.  She brought me to their warehouse which was filled with fresh, organic food that they could not give away.  Whole grain bread was viewed as having gone bad, since it was brown; fresh produce, like artichokes, just sat there if clients did not know how to prepare them.  

Encouraging local volunteer organizations, especially those with the ability to record how-to videos, to create user friendly educational products may help in the short term.  Involving local libraries that offer classes to do so with fun cooking demonstrations, even for children, is another way both to share information and learn more about specific needs and wishes.

The Challenge seems to be taking on the burdens of the world, addressing problems big and small.  The problem that we have identified is the general lack of access to nutrition, either through food scarcity or a preponderance of junk ‘food’, and ignorance on both sides.

Our solution treats this organically.  The shareable database and resulting farming methods contribute to greater public understanding of an optimal food supply.  Immediate local employment is enhanced by information, study opportunities and ideas for future sustainable careers and industries.

We chose 'concept' because although ours is a small company, our solution is not yet a part of its mission.  The company has always had sustainability and the betterment of all humanity as part of its core values.

With the right initiation, this database can establish quick and sure footing for the agricultural, prepared food and personal care industries.

Texas needs to decide how to welcome immigrants and the ability to offer unskilled jobs is part of this solution.  There is an area an hour west of Austin where vestiges of cattle ranching offer the perfect venue for this kind of experimentation, with ample affordable housing nearby.

Our solution is innovative because it approaches age old problems in a new, succinct way.  It curates some of the information online as it fosters the growth of new, or newly rediscovered methods of soil regeneration.  As a public service, it can be used by anyone with Internet capabilities.  In gratitude to the wisdom of sustainability that already exists, but is not necessarily recorded, it offers the opportunity for those who have insight, with or without degrees, to contribute to the library.

Ideally, it will combine cutting edge agro-technology with traditional proven methods of farming and animal husbandry.

We've learned this year that remote work is possible on a large scale.  Take that concept and combine it with the notion that we don't have to be restricted to urban areas but, with the proper infrastructure, we can connect vital hubs of rural experimentation with learning centers throughout the world - feeding local communities as we do so.

This solution is still in the concept stage.  Within the first year it will serve upto 10,000.  

In five years, we'll be serving the local community, which is about 50,000 of 2 million people in the greater Austin area, plus an unlimited amount of visitors to the database.

Currently, two of our team members have experience working for Heifer, International, a non-profit whose 12 cornerstones or core values closely reflect the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.  We worked on an organic, educational farm and saw, first hand, the benefits of sustainable farming, pasture-raised animals and community initiatives.

One notable piece missing from this picture  is the universal understanding of the benefits of this way of life.  So, we can measure our progress toward our impact goals by judging how widespread and accepted these concepts are by the time we finish five years of work.  Part of our goal is to make sustainability so attractive that it becomes the universal goal, not just a chore because it is a good cause.

One way to measure our success will be how many students are inspired to post videos or TikTok blurbs to illustrate their accomplishments.  Our goal is to make enlightened farming popular.

1 full time

1 contract/other

Our team has the combined education and experience to identify the unique qualities needed for this endeavor.  My own background includes teaching, living and working in Asia (Japan) and Europe (France) and considerable experience as a corporate spokesperson.

Our part time contributor has degrees in physics and Asian culture.  Both have experience working with both demographics we hope to best serve.

Over the years I worked for Quaker organizations and as part of the educational team at a teaching farm owned by Heifer.  It was there that I saw very affluent visitors profoundly affected by the realization of the benefits of organic farming.

I noticed a disconnect when sourcing for my company: the same words can be used to define very different things.  One example: Organic.  

Our team discerns the importance of precise, descriptive language that will convey one, clear meaning.

Our ideal leadership team will consist of those who can empathize with the demographic we serve.  This includes qualified 'elders' regardless of age, gender or degrees.  There must be an openness to comprehend that answers for modern agricultural dilemmas may be found in practices nearly forgotten.

The Internet holds a lot of information, but not all.  One of our goals is to seek out the best fits for our leadership team and that probably means driving long distances to find sages by word of mouth that are unknown online.

In my own life I have discovered just such people; unfortunately, the two I have in mind have passed away.

Solve can help us overcome the barrier of credibility.  Soil regeneration is not a new area of study, but it is not well known.  The use of mycorrhizae fungal networks is even less known.  No doubt there are other methods of food production that potentially offer great benefits to humankind that have not yet been accepted or understood.

With the recognition and support of Solve, Sporeticulture can open doors of possibility to a new generation looking for a meaningful and prosperous life.

As a non-profit program in its concept stage, Sporeticulture needs a lot of help in many areas.  That said, we already have a few professors, one skilled accountant and some local government agencies very interested in the project.

The software for accumulating and sharing the proposed database is crucial to the success of the endeavor.  The right board of directors could make such  a difference in the early stages of growth. 

The infrastructure of the initiative is equally important and calls for attention in all of the areas checked above.

While I do not have specific names in mind, organizations such as Project Drawdown, Slow Food, the Catholic Global Climate Movement (inspired by Pope Francis' brilliant Laudato Si, 2015, but not too active as far as I can tell), Soil Food Web, Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment....

Well established organizations might furnish board members, have specific guidance as to how to best proceed, have insights into areas that need better  communication.  It might also be an opportunity to bring more awareness to lesser known methods of soil regeneration and the importance of creating a public interest in the subject.

We are located in Austin, TX.  Our state has an influx of hopeful refugees from the south.  Part of this project is the creation of an experimental farm that uses a number of old and not well understood farming techniques.  There will be a need for unskilled labor.  The area I have in mind for the farm has room for affordable housing.

Part of Sporeticulture is the educational component.  Useful basic farming methods as well as advanced research into climate change and its effect on agriculture is not only a part of our mission, but also the introduction to sustainable careers for students of all backgrounds.

Sporeticulture is more than a database of information that can be accessed by those looking for it.  It is an experimental model of community living in which generations learn from each other.  Our interest may be the use of mycorrhizal fungal networks that strengthen the soil and prevent erosion, but we understand that creative wisdom can come from any culture, or race, or age.

In our ideal community, the natural gifts of some will complement the acquired talents of others.  Together, with mutual respect and understanding, we will fuse the benefits of technology with traditional wisdom.

As the woman owner of a small company, I have experienced the challenges that face other women today.  Aware, and active, in organizations that strive to end human trafficking, I have learned that safety from a situation is not enough to enable a girl or woman to succeed.  A strong support network including decent housing, community, education and opportunity is critical to quality of life.

Too many countries, including our own, do not recognize the equality of women, the contribution mothers make to society, or the potential of girls who want a higher education.

Part of Sporeticulture's mission is to begin to consider all avenues for success for young girls so that they can plan their academic careers in good time.

We would use the Innovation for Women Prize to augment our educational component for girls, in addition to ensuring that within our community all are afforded safe and comfortable housing.

Yes, Sporeticulture's mission is based upon creating the most complete, evolving database of soil regenerative technologies, information and connections.  It is the main focus of our project with an ultimate goal of compiling the ultimate source for information for tracking, predicting and dealing with climate change and its global effects.

We would use the AI for Humanity Prize to build the database and connect with similar organizations to create a blueprint for sustainable, effective and highly prosperous farming.

Following some of the methods outlined in Project Drawdown, and connecting complementary sustainable industries, it is our goal to build in a measurable way, actual farming communities along with an evolving storage of practical information.

Although our solution is primarily from the Resilient Ecosystems Challenge, it also speaks to the Equitable Classrooms.  Our proposal combines an innovative technology-powered database that has a practical, active use in soil regeneration.

Experiments conducted in fields around the globe will contribute to the evolving store of information as our own local experimental farm tests some of the theories.

Introducing young students to the future of technology as well as sustainable food production is a key part of our initiative.  Intelligence and academic drive will be rewarded with innovative classes, first in practical methods of farming, then in theory and ultimately in the opportunity to let genius flourish.